Venable Wins Manager of the Year as White Sox Make Historic Breakthrough
Venable takes the award
Venable joins five previous White Sox winners: Tony La Russa, Jeff Torborg, Gene Lamont, Jerry Manuel and Ozzie Guillen. Guillen was the franchise’s most recent winner, in 2005.
The honor came a few weeks after Venable received the Sporting News version of the award. He was chosen over Cash, a two-time winner, while Tracy placed third.
A season-changing turnaround
Cash led Tampa Bay to the American League’s best record. Tracy took over Boston during the season, then helped the team rebound from well below .500 and secure a playoff berth after a long winning streak.
Venable’s case rested on ending the White Sox’s run of three consecutive 100-loss seasons and returning them to the postseason. Chicago also came close to winning the AL Central, but Cleveland took the division in the final weeks.
Building on the breakthrough
Venable accomplished the turnaround in his second season managing the team. The roster featured a succession of productive rookies, while the starting pitchers often did not work deep into games.
Some fans criticized his lineups and in-game choices, but award voters focused on the results: a 24-game improvement and a playoff place few expected before the season. Venable now leads the group as it tries to take another step forward.
Key points
- Venable earned 15 of the 30 first-place votes for the AL award.
- The White Sox have now had six AL Manager of the Year winners.
- Chicago ended three consecutive 100-loss seasons and returned to the postseason after five years.
- The team improved by 24 games and nearly won the AL Central.